Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) led by Centre for Disaster Risk and Crisis Reduction (National Focal Point / Regional Advisory Group member) in Nigeria has sent their felicitation message to people around the world, Nigerian Government and all Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s World Humanitarian Day 2022.
According to a statement signed by the Executive Director, for CDRCR and National Focal Point/ RAG Member (GNDR) Mr KOLAWOLE AMUSAT felicitated with Nigerians and equally appreciated Nigerian government in their efforts in providing an enabling environment for the people, most especially, victims of natural disaster and insurgency. “We also appreciate specifically, efforts made by the Government of our dear country, Nigeria towards ensuring survivors of terrorist attacks, banditry, climate impacts, disaster risks and other forms of humanitarian crisis are cared for”
Speaking further, Mr Kolawole however call on government and other relevant bodies to do more in addressing factors hindering humanitarian activities. “However, in the country, we have observed with great concern lapses, gaps and challenges created by insecurity, poor budgetary allocation, inadequate institutional framework, policy somersault, lack of motivation among others hindering effective humanitarian activities, we therefore use the opportunity of this year’s World Humanitarian Day to encourage the government at all levels to look at the following recommendations towards strengthening implementation of sustainable humanitarian programmes against all crises”
Finally, the group recommended to the government ways to sustain and improve humanitarian activities in Nigeria
“1. review and reform as well as equipping our security architecture to a World class standard to be able to handle security challenges hindering the delivery of humanitarian services across vulnerable communities;
2. prioritize and increase budgetary allocations to all Agencies responsible for humanitarian activities in the country, and also monitor the usage of these allocations to reduce wastage and mismanagement by the Agencies;
3. foster synergies among all humanitarian Institutions and Agencies, and ensure localized institutions such as Local Emergency Management Committees, Community Emergency Management Teams, School Emergency Volunteer Clubs are all established to cater for humanitarian needs at the local level;
4. the need for policy coherence cannot be underestimated so as to achieve humanitarian objectives of the government, thus humanitarian policies to be made by government should follow global best practices and implementation should be people-oriented;
5. all Agencies involved in humanitarian activities should ensure their staff and volunteers are encouraged and motivated as ways of appreciating them so that they will be more committed to what they do.